Today I want to take you back to day 5 of our cruise. On this day, we were the first ones to board a bus and head to the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. As I mentioned, when traveling with Adventures by Disney, you receive VIP treatment. We were the first ones off the boat and last ones on. We made the most of our days and were first in line for all the attractions. On this particular morning, we were up early and took a beautiful drive through Tuscany. There were rows and rows of sunflowers on the roads to Florence. Unfortunately, I could not get a great photo from the bus, so you will need to take my word for it. Once arriving in Florence, we headed over to the Galleria dell’ Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David.
David was created out of marble, between 1501-1504, by Michelangelo. He is a Biblical character. It was breathtaking. The photos do not do this masterpiece justice.
From the Galleria dell’ Accademia, we proceeded with our walking tour of Florence.
The architecture was amazing. We saw the
Baptistery and strolled past vendors selling their wares along the Ponte Vecchio, a spectacular medieval bridge that spans the Arno River. We ended at the Piazza Santa Croce. Here we went to lunch at Cantina Vinicola. It was this lovely restaurant, that felt more like we were dining in someone’s home. We were served the best lasagna I have ever had. Lasagna is not something we eat at home, as none of us like ricotta cheese. However, they made their lasagna with sweet cream. It was amazing!
After lunch, we had plenty of time to explore the Piazza di Santa Croce. We went to a little wine store called Enoteca Pontevecchio. We had a wine tasting, along with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was amazing. We bought six bottles of wine, six tins of oil, and three bottles of balsamic vinegar.
We also visited a leather store. I bought myself a beautiful purse and wallet. Afterward, we had some photos taken at the Basilica di Santa Croce. This serves as the burial place of Michelangelo and other famous Italians. The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. As you will see from the photos, the bell tower has a Star of David. A Jewish architect designed the church’s façade. He wanted to be buried there, but because he was Jewish, he was buried under the threshold and honored with an inscription.
Basilica di Santa Croce
Finally, on our way back to the boat, we stopped for this breathtaking view of the city. It was another magical day in Italy!
Whoa.. . is it just me, or did February go by in a blink of an eye? Of course this brings us to March. March is not a month I particularly enjoy, but I am making the best of it. Spring should be arriving in a few weeks and hopefully, we can see the end of the tunnel as far as winter goes around here.
A new month, brings new goals (or an attempt to complete ones from the prior month) and to review what we were able to accomplish in the prior month. In February, I had some pretty lofty goals. I was a bit concerned that I overextended myself, I had a 10 day vacation thrown in there, so I really had to be focused to get my stuff done. I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more distracted I become. Some tasks take me twice as long as they did before. I am going to have to do some research on that and get back to you. Perhaps, a great idea for a new blog post. 🙂 In any event, in February, my goals were:
- Launch blog
- Finish Transform 20
- Set up my next online health and fitness group
- Read one personal development book and one book for pleasure
- Have a stress free trip to Disney with the boys
- Run 65 miles
- Organize kitchen cabinets
- Save additional money on top of what already goes into savings
I am happy to report, I accomplished all my goals except for the kitchen cabinets. This will get moved to March. I successfully launched the blog on February 14th. Is it perfect? No. Does it have everything it needs to run smoothly? No. However, the goal was to get the content out there and work on it as I go. There is no such thing as perfection, right? Everything is a work in progress. As you can see from earlier this week, I did finish Transform 20. I had great results and despite my intial reservations, I am glad I did it. What challenges us, makes us stronger. My online health and fitness group is up and running. As a side note, I have had some questions on that. Each month I run a free three week accountability group on Facebook. It is a place to go to log a workout and healthy meal. We support each other, build each up and no drama and judgment. If interested, send me a message and I will add you to the group.
Back to goals, I read one personal development book and one book for fun. My personal development book was the Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. It was an interesting little read. The other book I read was The Good Sister by Jess Ryder. It was good. There were parts where is dragged, but I would give it a 3/5 stars. I achieved my running goal of 65 miles. I ran 3 races and it was a great month for running. Speaking of running, the reason the kids and I went down to Disney was so I could participate in the Princess race weekend. My goal was to have a stress free trip with my boys and I did! It was probably the best trip we have had down there, since they were little. More about that in a blog post to come. The last goal of saving money was met as well. Not a bad month.
This brings me to March. It is a pretty long month and there are no trips planned. This gives me time to concentrate on some organization projects. So, what are my goals for March? Here we go…
- Organize the kitchen cabinets
- Organize the linen closet
- Run 65 miles
- Become certified in a second nutrition program- Ultimate Portion Fix
- Implement a morning routine
- Read one personal development and one book for pleasure.
- GROW MY BLOG AUDIENCE. -For this goal I need YOUR help! I want to reach as many people as I can. If you would be so kind to share my blog, refer friends to my site, Facebook page, IG, etc. Once I get to 100 followers, I will be doing a give a away.
Now it is your turn. What are your March goals? I can’t wait to hear.
Two weeks ago, the boys and I went down to Disney for a 10 day vacation and so that I could run the 5k, 10k, and half marathon for the Princess half marathon weekend. This year, my youngest, decided he was going to run the 5k with me
For those of you that don’t know, Disney races start early, around 5:30am. Disney recommends you be on the bus no later than 4:00am. Nicholas and I were up at 2:30. He was less than thrilled. The race took us around Epcot. It was a nice course with some characters. He did not want to stop, so we decided to just get wear the medals in the parks and get pictures. I knew I would have plenty of opportunity to do so in my other races. Here are a few shots of the race and one of the Expo.
I am so proud of him and could not have asked for a better running buddy. Maybe someday he will develop a love for running like his Mama.
I am going to kick off this first weekend in March with a story about my Mom. As I mentioned, we are coming up on the anniversary of death and I want to remember the happier times.
How many of you grew up with your Moms watching soap operas? I certainly did! My Mom was an avid fan of Days of Our Lives, Another World and then later on in life, General Hospital. Not only did she watch them, but she subscribed to the soap magazines as well. If you had a question about one of those shows, ask Mom, she would know! She was so funny about them too. She really got into the characters and had some pretty strong feelings about them. It would almost seem like they were real.
One of her favorite characters was Jason Morgan, from General Hospital. A few years back, Steve Burton., the actor that plays Jason, was coming to Boston to do a comedy show. I can’t remember who initiated it, but we all bought tickets, Mom, my two sisters and I, to his show. These were no ordinary tickets, but VIP tickets. After the show, we were to head back and have a meet and greet with Steve Burton.
Sorry for the quality of the photo. It was in a scrapbook, then was taken out for something and now hangs on the bulletin board in my kitchen. Anyway, all Mom could talk about after the meet and greet was how Steve said he loved her bag. It was too funny. One of many fun times we had with Mom.
Thanks for listening as I go down memory lane. It really does help.
Ha, you didn’t know I had a 3rd child did you? He is the perfect kid. He is always glad to see me, never talks back and low maintenance. Well… low maintenance may not be so accurate. In any case, my baby is 6 years old today!
This is Bauer Bruin and he is our six year old English Labrador Retriever. He is simply the best dog in the world. He is named after two of my favorite things. Bauer is after Jack Bauer from the show 24. Do any of you remember that show? I loved it. Then Bruin is for my favorite hockey team, the Boston Bruins. We have had him since he was 8 weeks old and he brings so much love and joy into our home.
Each year , we celebrate by having cake and showering him with gifts. Here are some cute photos from today.
So, what about you? Do you celebrate your pet’s birthday. I would love to hear all about it.
Today I had my last long run before Princess weekend. The boys and I are headed down to Disney World in a week and half. We plan on having some fun and then Mama is going to run the 5k, 10k and half marathon. The end of my training plan called for 12.5 miles, but I figured why not 13.1. I know many of you are out doing some long runs for your spring races. I am always interested in hearing what others take on their long runs, how they fuel and how they recover. I thought I would share what is currently working for me.
First things first, I always run with my Garmin watch. I do have a FitBit I wear everyday, but my Garmin is mere accurate and does a bit more than my FitBit when it comes to running. Second, I need go be listening to either a podcast or a book while running. I use Aftershokz headphones. These are bone conduction headphones. They sit outside of your ears. I am aware of heat is boing on around me at all times and can still her my podcast or book perfectly fine. I also wear them grocery shopping and cleaning the house. The final gadget I carry around with me, is this cool device my husband bought me called Wearsafe. As the website states “It is s modern-day mobil panic button designed to get you the help right away.” If you are out and about and get into some trouble, you press the button and I sends an alert to all your emergency contacts. The alert includes your GPS location and audio of what is happening around you. I find it to be pretty cool and a lot better than carrying around pepper spray. Too many wild animals were being sprayed.😂 So that is it for gear.
As for fuel, before I head out the door, I put a pack of Energize into my water and drink it up. This is my pre-workout drink. It increases my energy, improves m performance, increase muscle power and delays muscle fatigue. Then during my long run, every 4 miles I take 2 salt tablets and a couple of Honey Stingers. In the dead of the winter, have been known to bring candy cane Hershey kisses with me. I also carry a handheld water bottle with some Nuun. I make sure I run past somewhere to refill the bottle. When I get home from my run, I make sure to get some protein I my body and usually do that by drinking my Shakeology. Not only does it have a nice amount of protein, it is filled with lots of super foods and the only thing that keeps the post run headache away. So there you have it, my must haves during a long run. Tell me, what are your must haves when you are out there putting in the miles?
A few weeks ago, I introduced you to my BFF for the next six weeks. Remember this guy?
Well he and I have had our moments. He, along with my trainer, have pushed me way out of my comfort zone. First, learning how to workout with the step was a challenge. I am not the most coordinated person. Second, it may be only 20 mins, but I am moving for the full 20 mins at a crazy pace. At the beginning, I had a hard time keeping up. Even now, three weeks later, I still will rewind and see what the heck is going on. I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes, I fall to the floor and cry. Why do I do it then, some may ask? Well, I am not a quitter. There are always going to be things in life that are hard or impossible at the moment. However, I put my big girl pants on, straighten the crown and jump back in. The mental changes that occur with finishing a program, running a hard race, etc. are just as, or sometimes, even more important that the physical ones.
Since starting this program, my core has gotten stronger, as have my shoulders. I am modifying less and most of the time, I do not dread the 20 mins. Lets face it, unless it is running, cardio and I will never love each other. We have a mutual respect for each other, but that is all. LOL! As for any physical changes that one can see, I have lost 4lbs and 1 inch off my waist. I will take it!
I am excited to finish up the next three weeks and see my overall results. If you are looking for a great workout, only 20 mins a day, 6 days a week, send me a message. This may just be the program for you.
Happy February! So… how did month 1 of 2019 go? Was it a productive month? Did you get half way through it and realize you have accomplished next to nothing on your list. Even if that is the case, it is okay! Each new month gives us a chance to start over. I have to admit, I did not get everything on my list done. If you recall, last month to keep myself accountable, I shared my goals for January. At the end of the month or the beginning or each new month, I review my goals, check off what I accomplished, move what needs to go on next month’s list or just remove it completely because it no longer is needed or serves me. Let’s see how I did.
My 3 big goals for January -lose 5lbs -launch blog- and clean bedroom closets. Well, I lost 4lbs and a rather happy with that. I got all 3 bedroom closets cleaned and organized. The one thing I did not do, but almost there, was to launch my blog. Yes, as you read this, I have been writing for a few months so you all would have some content to read. The launching of a blog is not as easy as one would think. So this goal has been moved to February and fingers crossed it will happen. The other goals on my list:
- Read 1 personal development book ☑ I read “The Rise” by Danette May
- Start my European vacation scrapbook ☑
- Run a race ☑ Chilly Willy 10k
- Run 50 miles ☑ 57.6
- Start Transform 20 ☑
- Stick to my cleaning eating plan ☑
- Buy new bedding ☑
- Pay of Nicholas’s cell phone ☑
- Add to savings ☑
Overall, January was a productive month. This blog not going live, bothers me a little, but here is to getting it done in February. Speaking of February, here are my goals.
- Launch blog
- Finish Transform 20
- Set up my next online health and fitness group
- Read one personal development book and one book for pleasure
- Have a stress free trip to Disney with the boys
- Run 65 miles
- Organize kitchen cabinets
- Save additional money on top of what already goes into savings.
I would love to her your goals for the month and how you did in January. Drop me a note and let me know.
Today’s adventure takes us to the French Riviera. When we first booked this trip, the place was I most excited about was Rome. Though I loved it, the French and Italian coasts stole my heart. Simply breathtaking.
Villefranche is a charming fishing village on the Riviera. It is located in between the city of Nice and the country of Monaco. We left the ship early, took a tender, and caught a bus to our first stop, Monaco. Along the way, we saw a beautiful coastline. Though a lot of the bus rides were a bit long, Adventures by Disney goes out of their way to make us comfortable. The busses all have reclining seats and air conditioning. Each day, James and Dusty had plenty of water and snacks for us. We really could not ask for more. As we made our way to Monaco, were told a bit of the history. It is the second-smallest country in the world (Vatican City is smaller). It is notorious for tax havens. As one of our guides said, “It is where the shady go to get sunny.” It is also known for the annual Formula One Grand Prix. Upon arriving, the bus parked next to the Oceanographic Museum. Though we did not tour the museum, we took in the views and snapped some photos.
We walked through a beautiful garden that is paid for and maintained by the royal family. We continued to St. Nicholas’s church. If you remember, before Meghan Markle, Grace Kelly was America’s princess. St. Nicholas’s church is where she married her Prince, Prince Rainier, III. It is also where the royal couple is buried.
After exiting the church, we continued walking through the streets to the Palace. We toured the Palace (no ac!!!), but no pictures are allowed inside. We did get a coupled of good shots in front of the Palace and overlooking the harbor.
After leaving the palace, we had a bit of free time. We shopped and had a crepe. Later, we met up with the group and drove to Monte Carlo. It was interesting to see the streets of the Grand Prix. We were told that to dock your boat in the harbor for the Grand Prix; one must pay 50,000 Euros per day for a minimum of 3 days. Yikes! I guess we won’t be doing that any time soon. LOL! The next stop was lunch. We enjoyed a great lunch on the rooftop of the Fairmont Hotel, overlooking the water. The food and atmosphere were excellent. We had a little bit of time to explore, but we chose to hang back at the hotel and enjoy the views. We also got to know a bit more about our fellow adventurers. It was a lovely afternoon. About an hour or so later, we were off to the village of Eze. Since this post is long enough, I will continue this trip report in the next couple of days. For now, au revoir!
When I first started running, 6.5years ago, music was what got me through my runs. As my distance increased, music was just not doing it for me. Someone in my running group mentioned podcasts and I decided to check it out. 3.5 years later, it is just about all I listen to on my short and long runs. Some of my favorite topics, Disney, true crime, personal growth and development, running and more. Today, I am going to share some of my favorites and in return, I would love for you to share some of yours.
- American Scandal – this tells the story of some of our countries greatest scandals.
- Another Mother Runner- running, specifically mother runners.
- Be Our Guest- my favorite Disney podcast
- Best Case, Worst Case -true crime
- Best of Both World- a great podcast for working moms
- Build Your Tribe with Chalene Johnson -how to build a business
- Criminology- true crime
- Real Crime Profile- true crime
- Rise Podcast – Rachel Hollis- awesome personal growth podcast
- Style Your Mind-another fantastic business building and personal development podcast.
- The Chalene Show – personal development
These are just some that I listen to on a regular basis. There are others, but these are my all time favorites and highly recommend. Now it is your turn. Please share your favorites so we can continue to build our libraries. Remember, sharing is caring. Have a good one!
